Squid Return to South Australia After Algal Bloom

For the first time in nearly a year, squid have returned to South Australian waters where they completely vanished after a catastrophic algal bloom.

Research and Discovery Coastal Tours spotted their first large squid off Kangaroo Island on Easter Sunday. The simple message they shared on social media captured the relief felt by fishers and scientists across the region: "Nature is resilient."

The harmful algal bloom that erupted in early 2025 killed countless marine animals across South Australia's coastline. Southern calamari disappeared entirely from the Gulf of St Vincent and waters around the Fleurieu Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, and Yorke Peninsula.

Port Elliot fisher Andy Alford noticed small squid returning to Encounter Bay over the past four weeks. While the sizes remain tiny, he sees their presence as a promising sign after what he describes as complete decimation of the local population.

Alford wants authorities to extend the current fishing ban for another 12 months. "I'm sure it wouldn't hurt anybody to go another year to get a few, just to help the ecosystem out," he said.

RecFish SA, representing 300,000 recreational fishers, supports giving squid more time to recover. Their network and tackle shops across the state have largely agreed the species needs "a break," especially in the Gulf of St Vincent where numbers remain critically low.

The Bright Side

Scientists have good reason for optimism. Southern calamari are what Mike Steer, executive director at SA Research and Development Institute, calls the "rock stars of the ocean" because they live fast and reproduce quickly.

These squid grow exponentially and reach market size within just six to 12 months. Their lifespan runs only 12 to 18 months, but they reproduce prolifically throughout the year, moving around wherever clear water appears.

This rapid lifecycle means recovery could happen faster than with other species. Unlike fish that need specific breeding seasons, calamari can bounce back within months under the right conditions.

SARDI is closely monitoring squid numbers through commercial sampling, diver surveys, and egg counts. While the algal bloom has mostly diminished, a small patch lingers near Moonta Bay, Port Hughes, and Port Victoria on the western side of Yorke Peninsula.

Commercial catch data from Spencer Gulf shows numbers dropped since September 2025, but scientists are tracking positive trends. Blue swimmer crabs are also showing promising signs of recovery based on early reports.

The data feeds into PIRSA's Algal Bloom Fish Recovery plan, which uses specific decision rules to guide management responses and determine when fishing restrictions can safely lift.

Nature's comeback is happening, one small squid at a time.